The Ohio State University Archives

Throwback to August 1971, when University Hall, the first academic building on campus, was demolished. When the building opened in 1873, it served all of the student needs. It held classrooms, student dormitories, a library, a chapel and a cafeteria. Today its memory lives on in the Archives, preserved in one of its original bricks.

One final look back at the 1924 Paris Olympics! ⚡

It was said that George Guthrie, a sophomore from Elyria, was such an extraordinary hurdler that he had the unique ability to dislodge a nickel from the top of the hurdle without toppling it. Guthrie tied the world record for the 110 meters hurdles in the 1924 Olympic trials. He finished third in the final heat in Paris, but in a unfortunate twist of fate, was disqualified for knocking over three hurdles, losing the bronze medal. Despite this setback, Guthrie came back to OSU for two more years and continued to make record-breaking wins.

(Once again, we received much assistance from Rusty Wilson’s “The Ohio State University at the Olympics,” an amazing resource for anyone who wants to know more about the University’s connection to the Olympic Games.)

Flashback to the 1924 Paris Olympics! ⚡
It was said that Perry F. Martter, a 1924 OSU graduate, was the “best wrestler ever turned out here and one of the best ever produced in the Middle West”, (The Lantern, November 3, 1924). During his entire four-year Buckeye athletic career, Martter often competed out of his welterweight class to defeat middleweights and even light heavyweights. Martter only lost only one match while he was at OSU, with an overall 19-1 record.
Martter was named captain of the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team at the 1924 Paris Olympic Games. However, an arm injury sustained shortly before the Olympic games did not allow Martter sufficient practice time prior to his competition. Martter lost his first match in the 158-pound class, which others attributed not only to his injury, but also to biased officiating.

A century ago, OSU’s Charles Russell Payne displayed remarkable athleticism at the 1924 Olympic Trials in Boston, coming in first place in both the 100-meter hurdles and the 3,000-meter steeplechase. At the time, Payne had the second fastest time in the world for the steeplechase.
After such a successful trial performance, it was said that everyone was quite shocked when Payne failed to qualify in the first heat of the event in Paris. A July 9, 1924 Lantern article stated that “Payne’s defeat was quite a surprise to his friends and to the officials of the American Olympic team, as he was thought to have had an excellent chance of playing well in the front rank.”

Flashback to the 1924 Paris Olympics! ⚡
Harry D. Steel, a 1924 OSU graduate, and Big Ten heavyweight champion at OSU, was named first alternate in the heavyweight class for the Olympic team after coming in third at the final Olympic Trials. However, at the last moment, Steel got a chance to go to the Olympics when he was asked to replace another athlete who got hurt.
Steel made it through the preliminary matches and went on to win gold in the championship.
Perry Martter, who was also competing in the Olympics, described Steel’s efforts as being “almost superhuman”.
(To learn more about the University's connection to the Olympic games, check out Rusty Wilson’s book: “The Ohio State University at the Olympics”.)

Ohio State athletes are making a strong comeback at the Paris Olympics! A century ago, 4 OSU athletes created history at the 1924 Paris Olympics. Today, 24 student athletes are ready to leave their mark on the Games. Stay tuned as we look back on the athletes who competed in Paris a hundred years ago. (Pictured: George Guthrie competes in the 110-meter hurdles at the 1924 Paris Olympics.)

Before there were parking lots, there were posts for your horse and buggy! This image from the 1890s was taken outside of University Hall.

We love coming across photos of old technology here at the Archives. Here is a flashback to 1988: Who remembers their professor using an overhead projector in class?

This week in 1908, Alonzo J. Bowling became the first African-American to receive a Master’s Degree from OSU. Listed below are some of the first African-American graduates that can be identified. See a more complete list in our subject file! https://bit.ly/3VYnbOo

the Sundial, a gift of the graduating class of 1905, was dedicated. The Sundial, which cost about $500 at the time it was purchased, was originally placed on the 40th parallel on the northwest side of the Oval.

On this day in 1893, Olive B. Jones became the first full-time librarian at The Ohio State University. Her annual salary was $800! 📚

Happy Pride Month! Learn how activists and organizations in the 1970s and 1980s helped create an LGBTQ+ inclusive university: https://bit.ly/456Pe0W

This week in Ohio State University history: The Orton Hall Chimes were authorized by the Board of Trustees in 1914! They were delivered to OSU on Feb. 11, 1915, after the classes of 1906, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’13, and ’14 banded together to purchase the bells for $8,000.

Today in 1887, former U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes became a member of the Board of Trustees. Hayes is the namesake for our oldest building on campus: Hayes Hall. Learn more about him here: https://bit.ly/3UzwrGS

On May 3, 1879, Mary Frank Morrison became the first woman to receive a Bachelor of Science degree from The Ohio State University.

On this day in 1878, Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College officially became The Ohio State University! Find more information on our Historic Ohio State FAQ page: https://bit.ly/4b7NZ3r

Good luck on final exams, Buckeyes! 📚

This is no April Fool’s joke: In April 1970, a group of students living on the 23rd floor of Lincoln Tower, purchased a 1961 Volkswagen bus from a local junkyard. The students disassembled the entire bus, carried it to their room in pieces, and then reassembled it. “I did it just for the heck of it,” one of the students told a Lantern reporter.

Karen Holbrook served as our first female president. Learn about her many accomplishments as OSU’s chief executive here: https://bit.ly/3VDcNMf

We are sad to learn of the passing of George Acock, a local architect who had a great influence on OSU's campus. Just one example is Thompson Library. (See the difference in our photos.) Learn more about Acock here, https://bit.ly/3VtU9GF and here: https://bit.ly/43Bq1uV

Members of the first women-only scientific expedition to Antarctica faced more challenges than just the cold. Read about the experiences of Terry Tickhill Terrell, a graduate student on the team, here: https://bit.ly/3TOMYYv

Have you gotten your bracket filled out yet? Once you're done, reward yourself by checking out these historical photos of Men's and Women's hoops! 🏀

Did you ever wonder what it would be like to be the Drum Major for The Ohio State University Marching Band? Learn about the experiences of the first woman to serve in this role here: Interview of Michelle Graf by Megan Springer: https://kb.osu.edu/items/e952dc60-efa1-4e73-b7fb-0a6f50027c6f

Students walking around campus today probably do not realize that a horticultural garden once occupied a large amount of land beside McCracken Power Plant. In its heyday, these gardens bloomed with exotic and experimental plants. 🌸 🌿 https://bit.ly/3KSd8Vw

Deborah Ballam spent much of her time at Ohio State championing the rights of the under-served, including women faculty and staff, in her role as Director of the Women’s Place. Learn more about her career in her oral history: https://bit.ly/3V6WiI3

As our celebration of the Department of Athletics' 125th Anniversary comes to an end, we're recognizing The Ohio State University golf teams.

First up is the Ohio State University Men's Golf Jack Nicklaus plaque for NCAA Golf Coaches Association All-American Golf Team from 1961 and 1962. In the second photo is the Ohio State University Women's Golf First National Women’s Golf Tournament program from 1941.

Stop by the first floor of Thompson Library to see all of the artifacts before the feature ends on March 10!

Join us in celebrating the incredible women who have shaped our University Community. 💪

Today we are highlighting Our Choking Times! This newspaper, first published in 1970, sought to provide a community forum for Black students across the University. It also published poetry, cartoons and literary criticism: https://bit.ly/431Xgra

The first athletic team at The Ohio State University was baseball, which played its first game in 1881. Pictured here is a ball signed by the 1967 team.

We wish the Ohio State University Baseball team the best of luck as they kicked off their four-game series at Arizona State tonight!

Feeling the spring vibes yet, Buckeyes? 🌸